Last Christmas, I gave my husband Ron a pair of vintage silver cuff links that he had long craved, and I had long searched for. Now that the quest was over, there was just one problem: He needed a shirt to wear them with. Not a tuxedo shirt, just an ordinary dress shirt that sported French cuffs.
So when a representative of British shirtmaker Thomas Pink offered us a sample shirt for review, it seemed providential. Founded in 1984, with a shop in London’s Jermyn Street (aka Classy Shirt Central), Pink recently started selling its classic-with-a-twist button-downs through Bloomingdale’s. Here’s how one of its models exclusive to the store, the Fly Front French Cuff Formal Diagonal Textured Solid Dress Shirt, made a convert out of Ron.
Thomas Pink French Cuff Dress Shirt
The Thomas Pink Shirt Makes a Classy Entrance
Thomas Pink packages its products carefully, making its shirts seem special even before you put them on.
This one arrived folded, with multiple pins holding it in place (it took us a good three minutes to find them all). A plastic insert ringed the collar, to keep it from getting crushed or wrinkled. To keep its front smooth, the shirt was wrapped around a cardboard placard—not the usual rectangle, but an hourglass-shaped piece, allowing room for the sleeves. On it was written a shirt size chart and a list of 10 items describing various details of how Pink shirts are made.
The shirt also came with extra collar stays and buttons, enclosed in a pink envelope.
What Features Does the Thomas Pink Shirt Have?
Specifications
- Fabric: 100% cotton.
- Style: button-down, fly front.
- Features: cutaway collar, French cuff sleeve, concealed buttons.
- Fit: tailored.
- Care: machine washable.
- Sizes: 15 32/33 to 18 34/35.
Along with the folded-over French cuffs, several interesting features characterize the Pink shirt, giving it an elegant air.
Concealed buttons: Unlike on most dress shirts, the buttons are hidden behind a placket— a feature more typical on tuxedo shirts. Also called a fly front, it creates a cleaner, minimalist look, giving the shirt a touch of class.
High, wide collar: Pink dubs this a cutaway collar, and while it’s not as extreme as a true cutaway — whose points can be practically horizontal — it does have a generous spread, which looks good either open or with a large-knotted tie.
It’s entirely sewn, not fused, giving it a nice roll that will last. The collar’s height and long points (veddy British) are so nicely proportioned that even Ron — a dedicated button-down man, who hates spread collars — liked.
Subtly textured fabric: The shirt’s made of 100% cotton, but not the usual flat weave. It’s a twill, with diagonal ribbing that is near invisible but imparts a subtle sheen to the shirt, making it glow softly, like new fallen snow.
Split yoke: The yoke is that horizontal panel of fabric across the back of the shirt, in between the shoulders. A split yoke — two pieces of fabric cut diagonally and sewn together, instead of a single piece — offers more stretch and “give,” making the shirt easier to move in.
What’s It Like To Wear a Thomas Pink Shirt?
Yes, the Thomas Pink shirt looked great. But what was it like to actually wear it?
Ron reports that it fits perfectly, soft and silky, “almost like sateen.” Although the ribbed texture imparts a rich look, against the skin the fabric was light and “really breathed”: He didn’t feel hot in the shirt, even on an 80° night. He loved the concealed-button placket front, which allowed his jacket to lay smoothly.
In short, the shirt was “very, very comfortable.” And easy to clean, thanks to the twill: When a drop of sauce fell on the shirt, it came right out with a quick dab and a spot of water. (Spills sit on the surface of densely woven fabrics like twills, making them easier to remove if you work fast.)
Pros
- Rich, crisp look.
- Comfortable fit, breathable fabric.
- Sturdy construction (stiched, not fused).
Cons
- A higher price point.
- Requires cufflinks.
Are There Any Drawbacks to a Thomas Pink Shirt?
Being able to wear cufflinks was the raison d’être for getting this shirt. Obviously, if you don’t own a pair, this particular French cuff model isn’t for you. Since button-ups are what the brand’s all about, Pink wouldn’t be for a T-shirt or very fashion-forward guy, either. Even its “business casual” shirts have a slightly formal air.
Plus, Pink shirts are pricey. On its website, the listed prices start at $130 and can run as high as $265.
Thomas Pink French Cuff Dress Shirt
Is the Thomas Pink Shirt a Keeper?
Thomas Pink’s Fly Front French Cuff shirt is a versatile item, appropriate to wear alone or under a jacket. It can dress up jeans or casual pants, or work for business with a suit. It can even go formal (for those times when one wants to look dressy but not trying too hard).
It’s not cheap, but the quality construction and materials mean it’ll keep for a while—and keep a guy comfortable he’s while wearing it. At the end of the day, Ron had only one question: “Can I get four more, in assorted colors?”
